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  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF, San Francisco, CA

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.8
4.8
7351 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.


Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 551-1590
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ian Begg
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross street
    Gough
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 7,351 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco is a timeless gem offering an authentic French bistro experience. Known for its "fabulous atmosphere" and "superb food," it's perfect for pre-theater dining. Guests rave about the "friendly and attentive service." The eclectic menu features standout dishes like steak tartare and sole meunière.

7,351 Reviews
  1. Kate

    VIP

    San Francisco

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate here on the way to a show and he food was fantastic but the staff was even better! They managed so many diners who, like us, were en route to a show, with grace, efficiency, and friendliness. All staff, from host to servers and all in between were so great! Can’t wait to return when we have more time to enjoy!

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  2. Carol

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    An excellent choice for a pre-concert meal! We started our afternoon with a delicious Sunday brunch, and the experience only got better from there. The service was top-notch, with our waiter providing exceptional customer care. The quiche and eggs Benedict exceeded our expectations, and the cocktails were truly spectacular. A perfect spot for a meal before enjoying a concert!"

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  3. Barbara

    VIP

    San Francisco

    45 reviews

    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Brunch at Absinthe before the Nutcracker was perfect as always. Our waiter, Ethan, was great - personable, efficient and accurate. They've added some great vegetarian options to the menu. Included in our orders were Cauliflower Soup, Vegetarian Quiche, Eggs Benedict Florentine (done vegetarian), ricotta French Toast and Quiche Lorraine. Everything was delicious. We opted for desserts and they were creative, beautiful and tasted wonderful.

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  4. B

    VIP

    San Francisco

    131 reviews

    5.0

    131 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had onion soup and cauliflower soup to start - a great warmup from the chill outside. Filet of sole and mushroom tagliatelle were delicious. Service was attentive in the best way. Highly recommend Absinthe when you want a wonderful place to drink and dine.

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  5. Andrew

    VIP

    San Francisco

    103 reviews

    5.0

    103 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the most consistent French restaurants in SF. The onion soup is outstanding and is that way every time you come here. In fact practically everything is consistent with each visit. OK, since there are rarely specials you might get bored after a few visits. That's the only downside. Otherwise, this is a great place all around. I prefer the side dining room as it's quieter and more restaurant line as bar side room that is far more energetic and, many times, more annoying. Any dish here is good but my favorite is Petrale Sole. Be aware that portion sizes are very generous. Ask your server if you can order a half-sized portion as many times they are available (you have to ask). Generally, you'll have a good time here.

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  6. Christopher

    VIP

    San Francisco

    67 reviews

    5.0

    67 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were great. We love eating here.

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  7. Fanatic4Wine

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, well trained service staff on a busy post ballet Thursday night. Highly recommend this lovely, classic bistro, you can’t go wrong!

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  8. ShariqY

    VIP

    San Francisco

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on December 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Onion soup and Escargot were incredibly delicious gateways to two superb entrees - the gnocchi and the superlative petrale sole which was served on a cloud of ethereal pommes puree and topped with crunchy matchstick potatoes, a Wonderfully rich combination which was accompanied by a perfect combination of frisée . Add to that a beautifully curated wine list and absolutely courteous, efficient and flawless service and you have the making of a five star experience.

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  9. sfmelani

    VIP

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A pre-nutcracker dinner with my daughter. Food and service was excellent and, we even had time for a peppermint ‘s’mores dessert. .

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  10. Peter

    VIP

    San Francisco

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful, as always! I’ve been a big fan for decades!!

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FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.8 stars by 7351 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Gough
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Ian Begg
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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